There are four levels of Walt Disney World annual passes Pixie Dust, Pirate, Sorcerer, and Incredi-Pass which range in price from $399 to $1,399. Im currently working in a field totally unrelated to travel but Im 49 and would like to have an established skillset to transition to once I retire. Disney travel agents receive a commission for the trips they book (i.e., no salary or hourly wage). He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Rather, the number (and cost) of trips you book will determine your income. I know, I know. You just wake up and youre at the office! Once you've completed a program, you can choose to join a travel agency or operate on your own with a small business. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. There will inevitably be agents that know more about certain destinations, while others will know less. Novice vacation planners can expect to have a 50-60% split with their host agency to start off. They can answer any of your questions or concerns and provide tips for easy traveling! Certification programs vary in terms of cost, time commitment and requirements. She worked as a reporter for The Points Guy prior to becoming a freelance writer. Adventures by Disney are guided vacation packages thatll take you all around the world. This is the most important part when youre looking for a host agency to work with. We are looking for someone able to devote 20+ hours a week. What could be more rewarding than getting paid to do what you love? , youll need to become one prior to signing up for Disney travel agent training. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Types of Disney World Annual Passes. Second, an average worker spent over 14 hours and $600 to support their work-from home. After spending seven years in the U.S. Air Force as an Arabic linguist, Carissa set off to travel the world using points and miles to fund a four-year (and counting!) To get you started, Ill briefly describe the process of starting your career as a Travel Agent that specializes in theme park vacations. Turns out, there is still a high demand for Travel Agents! That led employers to report a willingness to continue work-from-home after the pandemic. Since your compensation is entirely commission-based, an effective marketing strategy will be key to your success. They are also a Diamond level authorized Disney Vacation Planner Travel Agency which means they are one of the best of the best when it comes to booking epic Disney vacations! This will give you the opportunity to learn about the industry and reduce the initial investment of starting a business. Specializing in Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Cruise Line, they also offer other options, as well. Are there specific destinations you like to book? Certified travel associate (CTA): A CTA is a professional who has a minimum of 18 months in the travel industry and has passed courses to enhance skills and service. Planning a trip to Disney can be a confusing and expensive process if you dont really know your stuff. Our Disney travel agents specialize in planning Disney vacations. (Not so sunny, A year of coffee Dole Whips and Epcot f, Heres a lil holiday cheer from Universal Orl, Theres a new (hot) snack in town! You want to find a planner who will be dedicated to finding the best deals and who will book the best attractions for you and your family. Like many sales jobs, Disney travel agent jobs require good communications skills. Weve published this list in the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World for years, but wanted to add it to our web site this year. If the agency is close to 5 stars and has over 100 reviews, youre probably in good hands. It helps to have a large circle of friends, family, and acquaintances to pitch your services to once you become a Disney travel agent. See the next section to learn more about how commission works in this industry. Now what? Join The Happiest Team Around As a top-tier, high-end agency, we attract the kind of clients you love to work with, so you can really make Here are a few things you should expect when applying for Disney travel agent jobs. You have a responsibility to your client to provide them with excellent service and you are paid for the service you provide. The 7 Best Disney World Souvenirs Youll Want to Buy. Is the owner supportive and responsive? How Many Days Do You Need for Each Disney Park? Advertising your services will be just as important as the work itself. Join Facebook groups and chat with your fellow Disney fanatics. Someone might ask you to book Aulani (a Disney Resort & Spa), Disney Cruise Line vacations, and/or Adventures by Disney. Honor and build on the foundation of ongoing environmental justice work. I dont have a business degree and I was able to set up a plan for myself that helped me attract plenty of clients in my first year. To a Disney fanatic, being a Disney travel agent may sound like the ultimate dream. Dining reservations can be made up to 60 days prior to their arrival date, starting at 6:00 am EST. Effective agents are calm, cool, and collected, as well as upbeat, articulate, and helpful. Disney pays a 10% commission to travel agents. There are plenty of people in the world who are willing to work with you so they can have a super magical vacation. Hence, the use of the word host.. Theres no denying that there are great benefits to becoming a Disney travel agent. There are a few that focus on Disney destinations but there are loads more that will allow you to book anything! Absolutely! Your days are filled with thinking about, talking about, researching, and booking Disney Destinations. Youll first need to meet the specific requirements of being a travel agent but there are additional criteria youll need to meet to specialize in selling Disney vacations. By becoming a Disney travel agent, you can earn money by making bookings for clients, and you can even take advantage of savings on your own Disney adventures. You may notice that some agencies promote themselves as Earmarked Authorized Disney Vacation Planners. Social media plays a major role in marketing these days. They also serve as a way to build comradery within a travel agency. Whatever your reason for wanting to become a Disney travel agent, youll need to first become a certified travel agent and then complete Disneys specialized training program. At this point, you can register for the training mentioned above. If youre a potential match, we will contact you to schedule an interview! We suggest you start your online search by googling phrases like Disney travel agent join our team, Disney travel agent jobs, Disney travel planner jobs, etc. How To Get From Orlando Airport To Universal Studios, How to Get from Disney World to Universal Orlando, Caribbean Resorts Atlantis, Sandals, & Beaches, article explores the ins and outs of how to become a Disney travel agent, including the benefits and drawbacks of working in this profession. The Pros & Cons of Using a Travel Agent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. With great photos, forthright information, and updates on whats going on at the parks, these travel agents will be there to help youand will be ones you can hold accountable thanks to their social media presence. You have a responsibility to your client to provide them with excellent service and you are paid for the service you provide. The real trick is to find clients who arent tire-kickers. They do exist in the Travel Agency world. If your agency doesnt give you an email address, you can set one up yourself. This can actually be quite simple and will put you in a better position than the Travel Agents who dont have a plan. Travel experts agree there are several advantages to hiring a vacation planner. If an agency is too small, they probably dont have any brand recognition or marketing budget to bring clients to you. I do like using an agency that specializes in Disney because they can search for the best deals and give the one on one service needed. I watch blogs and read up on it constantly, but I dont know if its a requirement? The goal is to limit your stress, so its nice to know that you have a variety of different agents at your disposal who might be a great fit for your personality and planning process. Once you've completed a program, you can choose to join a travel agency or operate on your own with a small business. Each graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge receives a one-day Park Hopper ticket for Walt Disney World (one per year). The best percentage splits you can expect to find will be around 80/20 (agent/agency). WebAs an authorized Disney vacation planner, Mickey Travels can get help with your DIsney vacation. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. Are Adventures by Disney Private Adventures Worth It? I use all of these methods to advertise my services, but I primarily use my blog to get my name out there. to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland each year. PO Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830 I understand that I can withdraw my consent for marketing messages from Disney Destinations Travel Agency Sales at any time. You want a travel credit card that prioritizes whats important to you. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. MagicGuidesis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Mailing Address: 310 Almond street, Suite 315 Clermont, FL 34711, Copyright 2022 Magic Guides | All Rights Reserved, Best Disney World Stroller Rental Companies, Countries in EPCOT: Guide to World Showcase, Disney World Deals: Discounts and Coupon Codes, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. Having an authorized Disney travel agent is very important when looking for someone to help with your trip. The Pros & Cons of Using a Travel Agent. Some agencies pay to advertise their brand at no cost to their agents so this certainly is a bonus from an agents standpoint. Depending on the agency, it can also provide marketing support and send leads to you. Furthermore, most Disney travel agencies book trips to Universal Orlando Resort. Hi Bianca! The second email will be a polite request for a testimonial that you can use on your website. If your family has never been to Disney World, I highly suggest contacting an agent to help you out. 5. Most of them do indeed have photos, which is great, although Id much prefer to see every single one of their Mouse Experts provide an image of themselves to make everything feel all the more personable. Then, plan to sit back and relax while your planner does the dirty work and start counting down the days until youre at the happiest place on Earth! Disney Travel | Tropical Travel | Disney Destinations | Our Team | Join the Team, 2021 THE ENCHANTED TRAVELER. Should I Hire a Disney World Travel Agent? However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Travel Weekly made the decision to freeze the rankings since many agencies wouldn't be able to meet the traditional minimum sales threshold to Also, check out the Authorized Disney Vacation Planner Agency Locator here for more ideas! How long have you been a Travel Agent? Read Disney websites and TripAdvisor reviews. After youve worked with a great client youll want to keep them so they keep coming back for every vacation! Therefore, it helps to work for an agency that brings extra business your way. All of their services are free, and you can easily get a vacation quote by visiting their website! As a Disney travel agent, you will be thought of and called upon as a Disney expert. Disney travel agents receive a commission for the trips they book (i.e., no salary or hourly wage). Its less than youd make if you were operating on your own, but it may be worth it for the added support and access to interested clients. Before you can even think of submitting a job application, you should first brush up on your Disney knowledge. Most of our work is web-based, both within this agency, in our marketing, and with Disney. Some groups dont like it because they are often affiliated with their own Agencies. There are some tax benefits to being a Disney travel agent. Let me know if you need help with your transition. Getting the inside scoop from a current employee can be very helpful. There are TONS of online resources to keep up with the latest Disney news. And while our site doesnt feature every company or financial product available on the market, were proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward and free. Your email address will not be published. I created a marketing plan template for my free email course. You can also let your agent know everyones favorite movies, rides, and characters in order to make sure you hit all of your favorite spots while on your trip! Disney can still be your specialization, but this way you can widen your client pool. Therefore, effective Disney travel planners should not only be computer savvy but also be social media savvy. You can search for the Host Agency in their database and they will most likely note whether it is an MLM. Its much easier to plan for other groups when youve been there! Lets discuss how commission works in this industry. FAM trips invite travel professionals to the park so they can learn first-hand what an area has to offer. April 27, 2023, at 12:45 p.m. Most Disney travel agencies do charge a small technology fee or E&O insurance. Also, beware of MLMs! As expected, theyre a little more difficult to get into because they are popular. WebBecome a Disney Vacation Planner. Each graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge receives, Travel agents who complete the Universal and U training program receive. They engage in a variety of online marketing strategies to bring in new leads to their agents. Sarah Bergmans When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. Hi Crissandra! You must possess excellent attention to detail when you book travel, as one slight error can complicate or even ruin a Disney trip. This will assure the Agency that you are passionate about the job, but not that you can do it well! adventure. Youll have the support of a larger Agency at all times. FAM trips are either free to the travel agent or heavily discounted. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Disney travel agents must be well-versed and insightful when it comes to Disney Destinations. A lot of hopeful Travel Agents think the only requirement to become a Disney Travel Planner is to have a love for Disney. If you do plan on giving out free quotes, I still advise having your client sign a contract stating they are willing to work with you. Thank you for these tips! If you are fortunate enough to get the job congratulations! The Pros and Cons. Great tips! WebYou dont need a degree to become a Disney travel agent but you will probably want to complete the College of Disney Knowledge training. With a few exceptions, being a Disney travel agent is much more flexible than most jobs. Not only should Disney travel agents be proactive and prompt in addressing their clients questions and concerns, but they should also be proactive and prompt in re-booking the clients vacation package if a new Disney promotion is launched. Sue Pisaturo, owner of Small World Vacations, a top Disney vacation travel agency, has watched the industry grow over the last 25 years, so we asked for her best I explain in detail the pros and cons of charging a fee versus giving out free quotes in the 5-day challenge. Some Host Agencies will let you plan any destination that youd like to. You have the freedom to work in your sweatpants (or the freedom to work in no pants at all!). Are Disney Lightning Lane Passes Worth It? If Nearly all Disney travel agents work from home. Using a Disney World Travel agent is ideal for a busy family who is at least one month away from their vacation. Or the owner might be overly reliant on you or demand too much. All of their services are free, and their clients leave them great reviews online! They are a Disney-only travel agency focused on providing magical trips for families all over the world! Apply for a Host Agencies. As I said before, hiring a Disney vacation planner isnt always the best choice. For this reason, we are highlighting them as ourtop pick. Mouseketrips is a small agency that have earned their right to label themselves as an authorized Disney vacation planner. Due to the complexity of planning a theme park vacation, many people opt for hiring an expert to do the work for them. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food. If youre not already a certified travel agent, youll need to become one prior to signing up for Disney travel agent training. Or, if you want to visit for a longer period of time, you can opt for specially discounted two- to 10-day Park Hopper tickets at Walt Disney World. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Points Guy. When applying to a Disney travel agency, do your best to convey these positive traits. Best Ways to Get from Orlando Airport to Disney World, Best Places at Disney to Watch a Rocket Launch. However, many new Disney travel agents are unaware of the pitfalls and challenges they may soon encounter. By Amanda Norcross. Its no surprise that Disney travel agent jobs require a passion for Disney Destinations. Having a large circle of friends and family to market to should help you hit the ground running. After all, the better you know a product, the more capable youll be of helping clients choose the right vacation. Ask friends about their experiences and recommendations. They are a Better Business Bureau accredited business as well as an authorized Disney vacation planner. Thank you! For the most part, Disney vacation planners are on their own to find client leads. This is especially true if you haveDisney travel experience. Some of the best reasons to become a travel agent include the benefits that youll receive, such as special access to discounted hotel rates. These people should be able to give you tons of information about Disney including pricing, restaurant recommendations, theme park passes, and more! OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105. What could be more rewarding than getting paid to do what you love? A few years ago, I had no idea that people still used Travel Agents. The reason being is that Expedia or disneyworld.com cant answer specific questions like Is the dining plan worth it? or Is Be Our Guest any good?. April 27, 2023, at 12:45 p.m. Application questions will vary depending on the agencies. Galactic Starcruiser: Disneys Star Wars Hotel, Where To Get Beer and Alcohol at Magic Kingdom. This will help them a lot when booking your magical vacation. As the top-tier agencies, Disney issues them more comp tickets and FAM trips than they do for the Earmarked Gold and Silver producers (and especially more than the non-Earmarked agencies). reward those who are self-starters and put in the time and effort to find new clients. How Much Does an Uber Cost from Orlando Airport to Disney World? Anyone who expects to be a hired as Disney travel agent must be well-versed in all Disney Destinations. This isnt just another job to pay the bills this is a Disney job! Be patient once youve submitted an application. Theyre also Universal Orlando specialists, so if youre looking to do everything in Orlando in one vacation, theyre the people to talk to! Its still very possible to get hired as a Disney vacation planner with little to no experience. When she's not flying, you'll usually find her in a Priority Pass lounge somewhere, sipping tea and cursing slow Wi-Fi. When a Disney travel agent books travel on behalf of his or her client, Disney pays a 10% commission to the host agency, and then the host agency forwards the agents share of the commission to him or her. One way to do that is to charge a planning fee, rather than giving out free quotes to entice clients. Typically, working with a Disney travel agent should be completely free as they are paid a commission from Disney for assisting you with your vacation. Be aware that Disney does not pay out the commission until AFTER the travel has been completed. Therefore, agencies want to know if youve actually been to some of these places youll be promoting. A Host Agency is a Travel Agency that employs Travel Agents as Independent Contractors. While there are plenty of fabulous host agencies to work for, none beatThe Vacationeer (in our opinion). I worked with Dana and she has been incredible. Disney travel consultants are no different; as a Disney travel agent, youre entitled to some excellent perks, like: How often do you travel to Disney? You can get a free quote by heading to their website and read plenty of customer reviews. are complimentary tickets given to travel agencies as a way to promote their resort. AdvisoryHQs List of the Top 6 Best Travel Agencies List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the travel agencies below to go directly to the detailed review section for that best travel agency): Azurine Travel Cire Travel Lighthouse Travel McCabe World Travel Small World Vacations Zicasso Handcrafted Travel path. Some agencies may ask you to write about your favorite aspects of certain Disney Destinations. Positive Team CultureEducationCollaboration, At The Enchanted Traveler, we are committed to, What To Expect From The Enchanted Traveler. The BEST way is to start a simple newsletter that you send weekly or monthly. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You can sign up by clicking here or fill out the form below the video! Do they like working there? Therefore, expect a lengthy delay from the time you book a vacation until the time you get paid. However, many new Disney travel agents are unaware of the pitfalls and challenges they may soon encounter. Once finished, youre eligible to become an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and entitled to all the benefits that the designation includes. Above all, we LOVE what we do, and helping our clients create the perfect vacation is an absolute dream. You can plan vacations for other theme parks like Universal Studios, cruises, international tours, and other destinations youre an expert on. If you encounter an agency with upfront training course fees, registration fees, etc., this should be a red flag. Certification programs vary in terms of cost, time commitment and requirements. If you enjoyed this article, please like our Countdown to Magic Facebook page! You probably wont want to hire an agent, but if you do, its free anyways so you might as well! What Disabilities Qualify for DAS at Disney World? Im glad you found your calling! The first step is to decide whether you want to work at a Travel Agency, start your own business, or join a Host Agency. Their intense love of Disney helps them stay on top of all the new things happening at Disney World and ensure you are getting the best bang for your Disney buck! Ears of Experience was founded over a decade ago by Amy Westerman. Our team of experts value and care for each other and want to see each other succeed. Host Agencies for Disney Travel Planners. It also gives potential travel agents the confidence that they will be working for a reputable agency. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, and The Points Guy. This will bring in more sources of income and high-paying clients. Host Agencies also take a small cut from your commission. Learn more about Magic Side Hustle: Host Agency Bootcamp here! That quibble aside, I think what I most appreciated about Ears of Experience was how they made it clear that theyre willing and capable to help families that have children with special needs. WebHere is our list of the top 7 best Disney travel agencies: 1. The Vacationeer is a smaller Disney travel agency, but that doesnt take them out of the running! You will have to work harder to find your own. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Each travel agent has a friendly picture and fairly decent sized profile, so you can really get a feel for who you might be working with before you even send over a quote. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic. If an agency is too small, they probably dont have any brand recognition or marketing budget to bring clients to you. Here are a few things you should expect when applying for Disney travel agent jobs. I am looking to transition out of the corporate world and have always wanted to do this. Walt Disney World Bringing Back Annual Pass Sales. I know, I know. There are plenty of reasons to become a Disney travel agent: You can receive benefits on personal travel, such as discounted hotel rooms, free theme park tickets and complimentary cruises. organizational skills and self-motivation. This will give them the incentive to stay with you and not waste your time. with, and up to around 70-80% as the agent books more and more trips. 1. Each day, I expand on the steps below and help you jumpstart your new career as a Travel Agent! Feel free to email me at kylee@themeparksforgrownups.com and we can set something up. Megan Lee joined the travel rewards team at NerdWallet with over 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. These guys know everything there is to know about Disney as well as can help with planning your trip to Universal Orlando. Here are some of the main benefits to becoming a Disney travel advisor: First and foremost, being a Disney Travel agent is a job. I run my own child care program and would like to transition to a disney travel agent, I feel my current self marking and people skills will help, where can I fing your coaching program? A Disney travel agent is a specialist in all things Disney. Travel agents with valid IATA or CLIA membership are eligible to receive discounted Disney and Universal theme park tickets and hotel stays. The Pros and Cons. Do you consider yourself an expert on Universal? Thank you so much for this! They also serve as a way to build comradery within a travel agency. You can use word of mouth, social media, paid ads, wedding expos, and even blogging or vlogging. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Vacationeer is one of the elite agencies that focus on Disney vacations. The ideal candidate for hiring a Disney travel agent are definitely first-timers. Once youve created an account, youll need to complete the College of Disney Knowledge training, which includes online classes and other valuable information about Disney Destinations. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money. The best Disney travel agencies are always those that are in a position to provide client leads to their agents. The Vacationeer pays for marketing and provides their travel agents with leads. Its also not something you can sit down at your computer and do all at once. Whether you charge a planning fee or not, you will still be earning a commission from Disney and it will come at no extra cost to your clients. Click here to apply for a job at The Vacationeer. Small agencies might not have the infrastructure, technology, or business savvy of larger agencies. This means no traffic delays, no commuter expenses, and you can sleep later and start dinner earlier. Honor and build on the foundation of ongoing environmental justice work. Disney travel agents are eligible to receive free tickets and discounted travel at Disney and Universal properties. Second, an average worker spent over 14 hours and $600 to support their work-from home. This is when you actually get to use the nifty marketing plan you made in Step 3! Employers like enthusiasm, so try to be expressive and enthusiastic when you apply for Disney travel agent jobs. In a nutshell, they want all the good qualities and none of the bad!